The Taipei Representative Office in Singapore celebrated the Republic of China’s 107^th Double Tenth National Day with a noon reception at the Shangri-La Hotel on 10 October 2018.  Hosted by Representative Francis Kuo-Hsin Liang, the event was attended by close to 1,000 friends and well-wishers from the political, business, academic and diplomatic community in Singapore.

In his address, Representative Francis Liang highlighted the longstanding and close bilateral relations between the Republic of China and Singapore, which stretches back to even before Singapore's independence.  In the area of trade, Singapore and Taiwan’s two-way trade amounted to US$45.157 billion in 2017, and for the first time, Taiwan overtook Indonesia to become Singapore’s fifth largest trading partner.

Taiwan and Singapore also enjoy close people-to-people ties.  In 2017, there were over 425,000 visitors from Singapore to Taiwan, and close to 400,000 visitors from Taiwan to Singapore, both record-breaking visitor figures.

In addition, Representative Francis Liang highlighted Taiwan’s achievements in global rankings, which were made possible by the government and its people working hand in hand. Taiwan was named the top Asian nation in the 2018 World Press Freedom Index released by Paris-based Reporters Without Borders.  Additionally, in the 2018 Freedom in the World report published by Washington-based Freedom House, Taiwan received the “most free” assessment in freedom rating, political rights and civil liberties.

Over the past two years, Taiwan’s economy has also shown signs of improvement. Last year, Taiwan’s economy grew 2.86 percent, a three-year high.  Moreover, the unemployment rate for the first half of 2018 fell to 3.66 percent, a 17-year low.

Representative Francis Liang also reiterated the success of President Tsai Ing-wen’s “New Southbound Policy”.  On the economic front for example, Taiwan’s trade with partner countries last year grew 15.61 percent to US$110.9 billion.  Its outward investment in partner countries was valued at US$3.68 billion, a 54.51 percent increase, and accounted for 31.8 percent of all outward investment.

At the close of Representative Francis Liang’s remarks, VIP guests were invited to join him on stage where they led everyone in the singing of the birthday song to celebrate the Republic of China’s 107^th  birthday, followed by the cutting of a birthday cake.  Amidst applause and three loud Singapore-style cheers of “Yam Seng”, everyone raised their glasses to the joyous and memorable occasion.

During the reception, a video clip entitled “People Centered, Joint Happiness” was played.  Through four broad themes, the video clip emphasizes people as Taiwan’s foundation, and that people at all levels of society lies at the core of the country’s governance.  As the saying goes, “happiness shared is happiness multiplied”, and this was certainly true at the reception where everyone present was full of smiles.

Group photo of Representative Francis Liang (sixth from right) and VIP guests offering their birthday wishes to the country at the ROC 107^th Double Tenth National Day reception.

Representative Francis Liang delivering his address at the ROC 107^th Double Tenth National Day reception.